Steelers’ Recent NFL Draft Misses Directly Trace Back To Coaching Failure

The Pittsburgh Steelers have been better at drafting under General Manager Omar Khan than they were in the years just before he was hired. Many positions that the team struggled to draft and develop in 2025 have become strengths, like cornerback, offensive line, and defensive line. They have also found an assembly line of edge rushers, as mid-round picks at the position have turned into studs that would start on nearly any other team in the league. It's not perfect, but it's still a far cry from how they drafted in previous years. 

Even with the few highly rated picks that did not go well, that doesn't appear to be Khan's fault. Insider Mike DeFabo explained why those draft picks did not work in his latest mailbag.

"I agree the Steelers have largely performed well in the draft, but the talent development under the last coaching staff was lacking, especially on the offensive side of the ball," DeFabo said. "I hope that changes with the new staff."

The most notable failures from the last few years in the draft have been Broderick Jones, Roman Wilson, and Kaleb Johnson. All three of them are on the offense, an area that former head coach Mike Tomlin had much control of, despite not exactly being an expert in that area. 

Jones was a project lineman that lacked versatility, but that didn't stop the Steelers from trying to make him work at right tackle for his first two seasons. It did not work well for pass protection mainly, and it led to him struggling at first when he switched back to his normal side. He did start to develop and become a quality blindside blocker at least, but a neck injury derailed that whole campaign, and he will be fighting for his spot as a starter now.

Wilson missed nearly his entire rookie season due to multiple injuries, so 2025 was his first true chance. Despite being the only player on the team that could get consistent separation, he quickly fell out of favor with Tomlin and Aaron Rodgers. His development was put on pause so the Steelers could bring in aging veteran receivers to make both men happy, while the former third-round pick became a healthy scratch and an afterthought. 

Everyone remembers Johnson's horrible kickoff blunder in Week 2 last season. Many believed that that was also partially the fault of the coaching staff, as his skill set did not translate to that area. After that happened, he rarely even got a chance to play on offense, as he was relegated to getting garbage-time snaps. With the recent signing of Rico Dowdle, that seems to be a possibility yet again. 

Tomlin had his philosophies and his way of doing things, and many players did not fit with what he wanted. Instead of adapting to help his team out, he seemed to keep jamming the square peg into the round hole, and it may cost one or more of these players their careers if the new staff can't fix them in time. 

Steelers Hope New Staff Is Exactly What They Need To Properly Develop Roster

One of the biggest traits of Mike McCarthy's coaching staff from top to bottom is versatility and adaptability. Instead of going into the season with one specific gameplan in mind, they are expected to feel out what the players want and what their strengths are, then build up from there. That could allow Jones, Wilson, and Johnson the chance to show off their true potential and get the playing time they need. The 2026 season will be truly telling.

What do you think about the past coaching staff(s) being blamed for recent draft mistakes? Let us know on X at @Steelers_ChrisB.

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